ALISON STEADMAN in Blithe Spirit

She would hate us for saying it but Alison Steadman OBE is in danger of becoming a national treasure. Perhaps she already is one given her incredibly hard-working career that has spanned film, TV and stage.

Her long association, both personally and professionally, with Mike Leigh has given us a slate of beautifully judged – and often hilarious – film performances including Abigail’s Party, Life Is Sweet and Topsy Turvy. She won an Olivier award for The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and enjoyed recent success in Alan Bennett’s Enjoy! A long and successful TV career includes BAFTA nominations for Fat Friends and The Singing Detective, and a hit role in Gavin & Stacey.

As Madame Arcati, Coward’s scatty clairvoyant in Blithe Spirit, she promises to put in a memorable and hilarious performance.

The play, which comes to the Apollo Theatre in London from 2 March 2011, also stars Hermione Norris and Robert Bathurst and will be directed by Thea Sharrock (After The Dance).